Oakland Running Festival

Oakland Running Festival, More than 8,500 people will run through Oakland streets on Sunday and along the way they’ll see some of the city’s iconic landmarks — Lake Merritt, the Tribune Tower, the Mormon Temple and the city’s bustling Chinatown.

But the third annual Oakland Running Festival will also give athletes and spectators a chance to see some unique things and hear some unique folks who only come to Oakland once a year — for the Oakland Running Festival.

“There will be 19 bands, 14 cheering spots and 16 (staffed) water stops and the Crucible’s fire arch, where runners can get a sticker that says ‘I ran through fire,’” said Race Director Gene Brtalik. “That is one of the highlights for the runners.”

In addition to a full 26.2-mile marathon that winds its way through nearly every district in Oakland, there will be a half marathon (13.1 miles), a 5K race, a four-person relay and a kids fun run, which Corrigan Sports Enterprises founder Lee Corrigan will lead.

“It looks like a jail break. You gotta see it,” he said, laughing during a morning news conference Thursday.